Let’s Get One Thing Straight

I’m talking about my hair, ladies. After years of hassling with my thick and naturally frizzy hair, the past couple months of stress pushed me completely over the edge. Between finals, cleaning out my office and keeping up with personal obligations, something had to go. So, I finally decided to cut back on the amount of quality time I spent each day with my blow dryer and trusty hair-straightening products.

A bit anxious but very burnt out, I recently headed to a small Korean salon recommended by a friend at work. There, they gave me a Japanese-style “magic straightening perm” for just $250. Was I nervous? Yes, especially since I used to color my hair, and chemically straightening color-treated hair can be damaging. But the staff at Mr. Lee’s Hair Place really knew their stuff, carefully trimming away a few end pieces that still contained traces of dye, while also explaining things to me each step of the way.

Was the three-hour process good for my hair? Probably not, especially given all the harsh chemicals that were used. But “healthier” treatments, including the more expensive Keratin complex, just hadn't given me the super-straight hair I wanted. Plus, Japanese straightening is permanent, whereas the Keratin treatment eventually washes out.

Now, instead of spending a solid half hour or more styling my hair, I spend less than 10 minutes blowing it dry after just a quick spritz of spray. And if it’s the weekend, I can just let it air dry, no product required, becasue no matter what I do, it comes out straight, smooth and not even slightly bulky every single time. And in my busy world, that’s completely awesome.

Have you ever tried a straightening treatment or other major styling service?